Kijiji Electrolux AP280 Find!

[kirbytradition7]

Last night I saw an ad on Kijiji Calgary for an Electrolux AP280 for $40, so I responded. So I went down to southern Calgary to buy it and pick it up tonight.

Here are some photos of it. It appears the hose and power nozzle may not be original to this model (the AP280 was made between 1978 and 1982, in Canada). I have seen other AP280s with a white wrapped hose and a brown PN and other brown tools.

I plan to clean it up with detergent and Magic Eraser soon.

It works great! When I got to the seller's house, he tested it for me; both the machine and PN run fine.

I plan to get a medium- or large-size area rug for my flat (because I have a lovely green piano coming in, and it needs a rug to sit upon). This will be great for the rug.

 

[kirbytradition7]

2nd photo: body

Body of vacuum

 

[kirbytradition7]

3rd photo: hose and PN handle

Hose and PN handle

 

[kirbytradition7]

Final photo: Power nozzle

Last but not least, the power nozzle

 

[petek]

The hose and nozzle aren't original. They had a plastic woven hose, whitish and the nozzle wasn't the L shaped, just regular shape colored tan like the body. That hose doesn't look to outta place though

I found some great vacs in Calgary at the Mennonite Thrift store near Costco in the NE. when I used to live there. You just have to stop by regularly and it doesn't hurt to let them know not to throw away any old vacs because you'll come and have a look and maybe buy them. Ask to speak to someone in the back though, not the nice old ladies at the front. I got my Eureka Cordaway there with the gold box top bag,, a near unused fully equipped Water-Matic even my retro 50's curved sectional which must have been covered in plastic it's whole life.
Here's the sofa and my dog vacuuming with the Kirby Heritage II about 7 years ago.. showing the retro sofa in our Calgary house.

 

[countryguy]

I bought a new AP280 in 1981. The hose was the cloth type, whitish with a brown striped pattern and had the squeeze trigger on the handle for the power nozzle which was dark brown.

Gary

 

[kirbytradition7]

Where would I find the serial number?

Today, I went to several Calgary vacuum stores, and found some Electrolux attachments (the reversible floor brush, combination upholstery/dusting brush, and a crevice tool). One vacuum place replaced my powerhead with a different one, closer to the colours of the vacuum itself (the old roller brush was getting bad anyway). The vacuum place where I got the tools also sold me a brand new Electrolux hose with the built-in wiring for the powerhead.

 

[petek]

It's on the backside of the front door where the bag goes in

 

[kirbytradition7]

Serial number

Thanks petek!

The serial number in my AP280 is: 2037920

Since the first number is 2, would that make it a 1982?

 

[collector2]

Yep the 2 means 1982.

Here is a picture of what all the original parts should look like including the optional sprayer, shag rug tool, shag rug rake, rug nozzle and both versions of the tool kit.

 

[kirbytradition7]

Hi collector2!

Thanks for the info (and confirming that it is 1982).

That (in your photo) looks like a beautiful set. Is that your kit? It must be hard to find a whole set like that (looks like NIB). If I could find one like that...

Even better would be if I could find a GREEN Electrolux... That's my favourite colour. I've seen some around.

But my AP280 works great (I did a thorough vacuuming tonight in my flat here in Calgary), even though it has parts from other models (they fit interchangeably, fortunately).

Speaking of NIB, I recently found a NIB Kirby Tradition. I put a want ad on Kijiji Calgary, and someone in Vernon, BC, had one, so I purchased it (he accepted my $200 offer plus shipping). It's in transit to me now; hopefully I get it soon.

 

[collector2]

Yep thats one of the machines from my collection. Just emailed you.

 

[kirbytradition7]

I looked up Electrolux model history on Google, and found out that the green power nozzle (that was on the machine when I bought it) is the style PN5 (1984-1987, associated with the Silverado Special Edition, Diamond Jubilee, and Marquise models).

When I took my AP280 to Superior Vacuums in Calgary to show it to them, they noticed the brushroll was pretty worn, so they just sold me a whole different PN--of style PN6 (1987-1993, associated with the Marquise and Grand Marquise models).

 

[collector2]

LOL actually those are US models and we didnt have them in Canada. The PN5 would have been with the 2100 or LE(J) and the PN6 (If its light grey wiht brown(Taupe) trim) would be from the System 90 or LE(T)